Chamber board: We back Murray

Priyanka Dayal McCluskey

Published Friday August 30, 2013 at 10:36 am

Updated Friday August 30, 2013 at 5:57 pm

PHOTO/ T&G Staff/RICK CINCLAIR

Mr. Murray, speaking with a chamber employee in June.

The board of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce this morning put its support behind president and CEO Timothy P. Murray, a day after the former lieutenant governor was fined for accepting illegal donations.

In an email to members, Richard P. Burke, chairman of the chamber's board of directors, said Mr. Murray has been open and forthcoming about the investigation into his fundraising activities since he was approached about taking the top job at the chamber.

"We are confident that Tim will continue to provide the energy and focused leadership to move the Chamber forward, and he has the full support of the executive committee in helping the Chamber achieve our goals," Mr. Burke said.

He credited the former Worcester mayor and six-year lieutenant governor for starting new initiatives and bringing a new energy to the chamber since becoming president and CEO of the business group three months ago.

"His leadership has also provided an enhanced level of collaboration with the Chamber's economic development partners in the business, political and academic sectors," said Mr. Burke, an executive at Fallon Community Health Plan.

Mr. Murray has stayed in the public eye at the chamber, continuing to attend the type of events he did as lieutenant governor. He has been vocal on issues such as water and sewer rates and housing policy, and he has hired consultants to reach out to minority-owned small businesses in Worcester and to develop a plan to recruit businesses to the area. He also launched a fundraising effort to support economic development initiatives.

When Mr. Murray quit his post in the Patrick administration to work at the chamber, he said the decision was not related to the investigation regarding him and Michael E. McLaughlin, the former housing official who solicited donations for him. He called the chamber "a unique job" opportunity that allowed him to continue working on important issues but closer to home. The job also gave Mr. Murray a pay raise.

On Thursday, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced that Mr. Murray agreed to pay $80,000 for campaign finance violations, returning $50,000 in illegal donations and paying a $30,000 fine, including $10,000 from his personal funds.

In the settlement, Mr. Murray acknowledged that he sought support from Mr. McLaughlin, former chief of the Chelsea Housing Authority, who was later found to be underreporting his salary. Mr. McLaughlin organized fundraisers for Mr. Murray and solicited tens of thousands of dollars for him, but without the Murray campaign committee's authority, according to the settlement. As a public employee, Mr. McLaughlin was barred from political fundraising.